An increasing number of Canadians animate their trip to the south of the border while the realities of a trade war settled, forcing airports and airlines to adapt just as quickly.
It was an “easy decision” for the traveler at Diefenbaker Ted Zurakowski airport.
“Two planned trips, none of them was going to the United States,” he added.
“(The trade war) certainly makes me think twice before going to the United States,” said Larisa Kalist, another traveler at Diefenbaker airport.
However, Global News spoke to a traveler heading south of the border, not for sunny holidays, but rather to sell his American property.
“Due to the madman at the bottom of the south,” said Alvin Peters, a traveler at Diefenbaker airport going to Phoenix to sell his house.
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“We do not know what he will wake up and say tomorrow. The market is hot and the dollar is in the toilet, so it’s a good time to sell,” he added.
Jamie Milton, president of Uniglobe Carefree Travel, said that she had noticed this drop in American trips from early January after the initial announcement of the United States.
Milton said that she had started to see the Canadians instantly “trying to book the United States for new trips. And then, as things degenerate, we started to see people more hesitant to travel to the United States during trips they had currently reserved. ”
The EQ bank recently questioned how Canadians manage the lower Canadian dollar (CAD) compared to the US dollar (USD) and how it allowed them to focus more on trips to Canada.
Veronica Chung, Senior Account Coordinator for EQ Bank, said in a press release: “When asked how the lowest Canadian dollar against the US dollar would have an impact on their travel plans, 62% of respondents said they were planning to focus more on travel in Canada.”
Milton also noted that the lower Canadian dollar (CAD) encourages its customers to travel more at the national level, because it is more affordable. She also noticed that some airports and airlines adapt to this trend.
“We see routes cut off from airlines,” said Milton. “But, even more, simply reduce the number of flights on a route. (Pass) every day to three or four times a week, this kind of thing.”
However, all airports have not noticed the trend. James Bogusz, president and chief executive officer of the Regina Airport Authority, said that the figures for the beginning of 2025 show an increased demand for American flights.
“All of this, however, we look at very closely because, of course, we hear about the softening of demand. This has not yet materialized in our local figures,” said Bogusz.
In a press release from Saskatoon Diefenbaker Airport, a spokesperson noted that some travelers also raised concerns about policy changes and exchange rates, also anticipating an increase in interior travel.
“The recent climbing of trade tensions between Canada and the United States should influence travel models between the two countries.”
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